A run for the ages

Monday

Apr 21, 2014 at 9:50 PMApr 22, 2014 at 12:53 AM

By Scott O'ConnellDaily News Staff

Hours before she would run her first Boston Marathon since being stopped before the finish at last year's event, Meredith Kent was a bundle of nerves Monday morning."Lots of anticipation, excitement. I feel pretty proud – nervous, too. Just every possible emotion," said the 39-year-old Northborough resident.That would be a fitting inscription on the 118th Boston Marathon, an event that ran the gamut from inspiration to consternation. On one hand, the race delivered the uplifting moments the public had been longing for ever since two explosions brought last year's Marathon to a tragic close, from the final Boston run of Rick and Dick Hoyt's legendary career to Meb Keflezighi becoming the first American male runner to break the tape ahead of all the rest in 31 years.On the other, some spectators had a hard time adjusting to the new reality of enhanced security along the Marathon route, which was blanketed by thousands of police, federal agents, and soldiers.From either perspective, it was apparent this year's Boston Marathon was more than just a race."It has truly been a long, hard 12 months. But we've all recovered, we've all processed, and now we're here in the moment," Boston Athletic Association race director Dave McGillivray said, addressing the hundreds of runners and viewers congregated at the starting line. "We're taking back our race today."They started in Hopkinton, where people arriving at Hopkinton State Park passed through the first of what would be several checkpoints they'd encounter on Monday before being whisked by a bus to the race course.On Main Street, some spectators were initially confused by the elaborate barricade system patrolled by police and race staff. Several people reported having difficulty just finding the start line.But the extra layer of security was welcomed by Michelle Midkiff, who was on Ash Street to watch her first Marathon since moving with her family to Hopkinton last summer."Everybody is so friendly. I feel safe here," she said. "With all the prep work that went into it, I had no reservations."The scene was a little more laidback at the Athletes' Village set up at Hopkinton High School and Middle School, where Tom McGowan of Maynard, one of the 32,408 who ran on Monday, was eager to start his fourth Boston Marathon after failing to qualify last year."It means more this year," McGowan, 61, said. "When you take that corner and see the finish line, it's just magic.""There's just so much energy around the city of Boston," said Tim Perry of Manchester, N.H., who was at the starting line waiting for his first wave to line up.The 30-year-old had already crossed the finish last year by the time the two blasts on Boylston Street killed three people, injured more than 250, and halted the race. But he still found plenty of motivation to run again this time, his fourth Marathon."To be part of an event that would symbolize a time of healing and togetherness – that was something I couldn't pass up," Perry said.In Ashland, Karen Swartz of Grafton said she also couldn't miss Marathon Monday, even though her job is in Rhode Island."I don't work on Patriots' Day. I come to the Marathon," she said.In Framingham, Cheryl Marr, of Atkinson, N.H., cheered on the sidelines for her son Peter, who ran last year's Boston Marathon but was stopped a mile from the finish line after the bombs went off. He has since moved to Denmark for work, but living on another continent didn't stop him from coming back to run this year."He said, ‘I have to come back and finish this year, finish the race,'" his mother said.Micho Pilotte, of South Boston, ran her third Boston Marathon with the same goal. The explosions stopped her as she was just strides away from the finish line last year."I feel strong, I feel amazing and I am so happy to be here," Pilotte said as she stopped in Framingham to hug her father and sister Jillian, and grab a Gatorade."I couldn't be any prouder of her," Jillian said.In Natick, the Lasusa family of Chester, N.J., made their first trip to the area to cheer on Michael Lasusa, who was running his first Boston Marathon since 2002 as a tribute to the city and its residents. Lasusa's mom, Patricia Lasusa, said this year's Marathon had a similar feel to the 2001 New York City Marathon, which her son also ran."The streets were lined with people," she said of the race, which was held two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "It was very patriotic."Betty Tassinari of Arlington stood with several people on the steps of St. Patrick's Church in Natick ringing cowbells as she waited for her brother, EJ Hrynowski, to come by."This is our job," she said. "Our job is to cheer. ... It's something we all take part in."Dan Weiner, 41, of Natick, said he noticed more people and more emotion than in prior years, a result of energy that has been "pent up" since last year's bombings.Weiner said he wouldn't consider missing a Marathon."It's part of the fabric of the community," he said.In other towns, there didn't seem to be a consensus on turnout compared to last year. In Ashland, the crowds were larger than a year ago, but Julie Rodgers said there seemed to be "a lot less people" in Hopkinton."But I definitely feel the same energy," the Ash Street resident said. "I wouldn't change it for the world. It's the highlight of our year."Rodgers was holding up a "Boston Strong" sign near the starting line. The phrase, made popular in the wake of last year's bombings, could be seen everywhere along the 26.2-mile course Monday, and apparently was even on the mind of the eventual top male finisher as he pushed himself to an official time of 2:08:37."I just kept on thinking, ‘Boston Strong, Boston Strong,'" the 38-year-old Keflezighi said during his post-race press conference. "This is probably the most meaningful victory for an American, because of what happened last year."He was joined in the victors' circle by Kenyan Rita Jeptoo, who won her third Marathon and set a women's course record of 2:18:57.Keflezighi, a three-time Olympian from San Diego, Calif., pumped his fist in the air as he neared the finish line, stoking the crowd to a fever pitch as it chanted, "USA, USA!""The energy was just phenomenal," he said, revealing that he wanted to throw up at mile 22 but knew he had to press on."I held back, (and) collected myself," he said. "Sometimes, you just have to run and dig deep."Toward the end, I was getting nervous. (The crowd) helped me carry through."Finishing more than an hour later, but with no less happiness, was Sandra Lehane of Milford, who showed no signs of fatigue among the winded runners proceeding down Clarendon Street to meet their families."The crowds were as deep as the buildings," the 41-year-old said of the final stretch into the city. "I almost got choked up on my way into Boston."I feel awesome. I'm so grateful to everyone who supported me."After being the second to last person to cross the finish line last year as the first bomb exploded, Mendon's Kristine Biagiotti had tears streaming down her face after completing her race on Monday.“I'm so glad we finished. It was part of the healing,” Biagiotti, 47, said.Scott O'Connell can be reached at 508-626-4449 or soconnell@wickedlocal.com. Reporters Jonathan Phelps, Anamika Roy, Danielle Ameden, Brian Benson, Jeff Malachowski, Brad Petrishen, and Zachary Comeau contributed to this story.